Poll: Marijuana and E-Cigs Less Dangerous than Smoking

A July Gallup poll found that Americans say cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes are much more harmful to people who use them than marijuana and e-cigarettes.

Poll results show that majorities of Americans say cigarettes (82%), chewing tobacco (71%), cigars (56%) and pipes (52%) are all very harmful, while fewer say the same of vaping (38%) and marijuana (27%).

However, when the somewhat harmful responses are factored in, all six products are considered harmful by majorities of Americans, with nearly all Americans viewing cigarettes (96%) and chewing tobacco (94%) this way. Seventy-three percent regard vaping as very or somewhat harmful, and 56% say the same about marijuana.

While still used the most often by American adults (13% reported regular use and 7% occasional), cigarette use has fallen by half since the 1980s, when an average of 32% of adults said they had smoked a cigarette in the past week. Marijuana is the second most popular, with 5% saying they use it regularly and 8% occasionally.